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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4249, 2 November 1874, Page 2

A telegram from Sir George GREy to the Superintendent of Wellington has been published. It appears elsewhere in our paper. We are surprised at the publication of this telegram, as it places Sir George Grey in a mostanomalousposition before the public. Surely a little consideration for this gentleman by his friends might be expected ; but the Superintendental Party having, to their intense gratification, received the adhesion of a former Governor of the colony, appear bent upon making political capital out of the circumstance, whatover may bo the effect upon the reputation of their ally. Sir George Grey; is-altogether wrong in his facts, and, we say it without intending to be offensive, he does riot appear in the least to understand what lie is writing and telegraphing about. His petition to tho Governor only proves how little "the Father of tho Constitution" may know of his own offspring, for it is very clear that he has a most imperfect knowledge of tho history and working of representative institutions in Now Zealand. Such ignorance is wholly inexcusable. Sir Georoe Grey, however, does not appear to be any better informed in respect of Imperial legislation. The Superintendent of Wellington is informed that " the British Parliament which gave " these liberties, [provincial institutions,] '' thought them so valuable that in each " amending Act it made them more " secure." This must have been news to Mr. Fitzherbert, who was a member of the New Zealand Government which procured the enactment of a law by the Imperial Parliament, empowering the General Assembly to abolish the provinces, and substitute any other form of local government. This Act, which was passed in 1868, was published by us in our issuo of tho 30th ultimo, and is the strongest possible comment upon Sir George Grey's statement. And we go even further, and stato without fear of contradiction, that the settled purpose of Mr. Stafford's Government, in which Mr. Fitzherbert was Colonial Treasurer, was to abolish Provincial Government, and that the declaratory statute of tho Imperial Parliament beforo referred to, ■ was obtained by Ministers to facilitate tho accomplishment of that design. Mr. Fitzherbert must, thoreforo, havo been infinitely amused by tho gushing confidence of. Sir George Grey. Inclood, 'no more amusing spectacle could bo conceived than the guileless by-play of these political veterans, as disclosed by the telegram beforo us. Wo have not boon favored with Mr. Fitziierbert's confidential message to Sir Georoe Grey, but wo I

can make a shrewd guess at its contents from the reply which has been published. But there is one passage in this telegram to which we take decided objection. The passage is as follows : " Pray telegraph as Superintendent to "Secretary of State ; point out course " taken unconstitutional ; and pray no " action be taken until new election, and " provinces heard. Parliament will at " once accede to this." Sir George Grey here advises the Superintendent to disregard the Governor, through whom alone the Secretary of State can be regularly communicated with on public business affecting tho Colony. The advice itself is a covert insult to His Excellency by a predecessor in his high office ; and it is far from complimentary to Mr. Fitzherbert to assume him capable of doing anything so irregular and improper. No one knows better than Sir George Grey that, were his advice acted upon, tho protest of the Superintendent of Wellington would be resented as a gross impertinence. One can hardly have patience with a man of Sir George Grey's experience, who could recommend a course so utterly at variance with the well-known rules of. official intercourse between the Colonies and the Secretary of State. But the strangest thing of all is Sir George Grey's assurance of what is certain to follow Superintendent Fitzherbeht's protest: " Parliament will at " once accede to this !" Is " the Recluse "of Kawau " serious ? We can hardly think so after reading this sentence. The Superintendent of Wellington is unquestionably an able and influential politician. He possesses very considerable influence in the General Assembly of New Zealand, but it is something new to know that he is even more potent in the Imperial Parliament. It would havo been well for Sir George Grey's reputation if this absurd telegram had been.withheld from publication. It at once removes his proposals out of tho region of sober controversy. What he proposes is a revolution, in which all rules of order shall be disregarded, and Parliamentary Government become impossible.